Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) expects to obtain certification for its new double-deck Twindexx EMUs – now called the FV Dosto – this summer.

SBB, which has been testing the new trains since June 2015, said it was confident it will receive approval from the Swiss Federal Office of Transport for the FV Dosto this summer.

A limited passenger service is planned for the second half of this year.

On May 11, members of the Swiss media were allowed onboard a test run between Bern and Interlaken-Ost to find out how the project is progressing.

In 2010, SBB signed a CHF 1.9 billion order with Bombardier for 59 long-distance, double-deck EMUs. The new train sets, which have been built in Hennigsdorf, will initially serve the St Gallen – Geneva corridor.

Delivery of the trains is currently running three years behind schedule. In 2012, SBB announced the project faced delays because of issues with the design.

In 2014, the two companies agreed an updated delivery schedule which would see all 59 trains, including three additional units, delivered by 2020.